Ekene's lifeless body lay on the ground, his eyes closed forever. His friends gathered around him, their hearts heavy with grief as they struggled to come to terms with the loss of their beloved companions. Princess Adaeze knelt beside him, taking his hand in hers as she wept, her sobs echoing through the stillness of the night. Cynthia and Samuel watched in pained silence, their eyes locked on Ekene's corpse. Cynthia wept as her gaze locked upon Ekene's corpse, her heart heavy with sorrow
Suddenly, thunder blared, the wind blew fiercely, and the night sky unleashed an unstoppable barrage of rain. The storm raged on as if mourning the loss of a great soul
"Even the sky weeps for him," Samuel said, his voice laden with sorrow. "What a great man he was."
Cynthia nodded, her voice a choked whisper. "Yeah."
As they stood in their shared grief, Samuel's gaze lifted to the sky, his eyes narrowing as he spotted Ikuku floating in the air, seemingly encircled by the crimson moon. A sense of unease washed over him as he wondered aloud, "What's that bastard up to now?"
Cynthia followed his gaze, her own eyes fixed on Ikuku's ominous figure. "I don't know," she replied, her voice tinged with apprehension.
Suddenly, Ikuku's voice boomed through the village, cutting through the silence of the night. "Let the earth get a feel of Hell's pillars of flames!"
As his words reverberated through the air, pillars of fire erupted from the ground, standing tall like magma rising from the earth's core. Each pillar reached the height at which Ikuku floated, their fiery glow casting a hellish hue over the village. The infernal pillars were inescapable, their touch promising a slow and agonizing death. No amount of water could quench their blaze, not even the unrelenting downpour that soaked the world around them.
Samuel took in the scene, his eyes wide with horror before he gave the order, his voice ringing with urgency. "Guys, let's go!"
Cynthia nodded, her gaze meeting his as she steeled herself for what was to come. "Right!"
Samuel and Cynthia leapt into action, fueled by a shared determination to defend their friends' home. However, they noticed that Princess Adaeze remained rooted to the spot, seemingly unfazed by the chaos around her. She clung to Ekene's hand, her tears indistinguishable from the rainwater that cascaded down her face.
"Adaeze! Let's go!" Samuel yelled, his voice barely audible over the storm. But Princess Adaeze didn't respond, her gaze locked on Ekene's lifeless form.
Cynthia tried again, her tone pleading. "Adaeze! We need you!" But still, Princess Adaeze remained motionless, as if she couldn't hear them at all.
Realizing that time was of the essence, Samuel turned to Cynthia, his voice firm and decisive. "Leave her alone. Let's go. Ensure no one is close to the pillars. I will keep Ikuku busy."
Cynthia searched his eyes, her concern evident. "Please be careful," she urged.
"I will," Samuel promised, offering her a reassuring nod before they parted ways. Cynthia raced towards the villagers, her focus set on guiding them to safety. She herded them to a single gathering point, ensuring they kept a safe distance from the deadly pillars of flame.
Meanwhile, Samuel approached Ikuku, his voice ringing with defiance as he called out, "Monster! Come down here, now!"
Ikuku peered down at Samuel, a sneer marring his features. "Huh? Aren't you the buddy of that loser, Ekene?"
Samuel's resolve hardened, his fists clenched at his sides. "Of course I am. I'm here for vengeance! So come down here, now!"
Ikuku let out a sinister laugh, his voice echoing through the stormy night. "This is interesting. I see you're begging to get killed. As a generous god, I'll grant your request and come down," he declared, slowly descending from the sky.
Before Ikuku could even touch the ground, Samuel lunged forward, launching a powerful punch. However, Ikuku effortlessly caught Samuel's fist with his right hand. Undeterred, Samuel threw another punch with his free hand, only for Ikuku to swiftly break the wrist he was holding.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Samuel cried out in pain, his eyes widening as he realized the extent of the injury.
Ikuku's lips quirked in amusement. "You should have waited. Why are you rushing?"
Gritting his teeth against the throbbing in his broken wrist, Samuel couldn't help but marvel at Ekene's bravery. "Damn! He broke my right wrist. Ekene fought someone like him? That's insane!"
Just then, Ikuku raised his hand into the sky, his gaze locked on Samuel.
"What is he doing, now?" Samuel wondered, a sense of dread creeping into his mind.
As Ikuku lowered his hand, he fixed Samuel with an intense stare. "Now then, you said you wanted to avenge Ekene's death, right?"
"Yes," Samuel replied, his curiosity piqued. "But what did you do with your hand raised?"
A menacing grin spread across Ikuku's face. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed."
Samuel's eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for any signs of change. "What am I supposed to be noticing here?" he asked, his frustration mounting.
Ikuku's menacing laugh filled the air. "Hah! It's what you're not noticing. Look well," he taunted.
It was then that Samuel noticed the movement of the pillars of flame – they were slowly but surely advancing diagonally, a terrifying and deadly maze encroaching upon the village. "Jesus!" he shouted, horror gripping his heart.
Ikuku launched a relentless barrage of attacks, leaving Samuel helpless and unable to defend himself. The sheer force of Ikuku's power was on full display, a chilling testament to the darkness that threatened their very existence.
As the villagers scattered, desperately trying to avoid the pillars of flame, many were unfortunate enough to be touched by the fiery onslaught. The destruction was immense, countless lives reduced to ash as the pillars carved a path of devastation through the once-peaceful village.
Meanwhile, Princess Adaeze pulled a small, poisonous pill from her pocket. With a trembling hand, she prepared to take the fatal dose, her eyes fixed on Ekene's lifeless form. "I had prepared to take this when all these were over. But it doesn't matter anymore. Ekene, please wait for me. I'm coming," she whispered, her voice a poignant blend of love and despair.
Leaning down, she placed a tender kiss on Ekene's lips before opening the bottle, ready to pour its contents into her mouth. Just as the bottle was about to reach her lips, a hand shot out, grasping her wrist and sending the bottle tumbling to the ground.
Startled, Princess Adaeze's eyes widened in disbelief. "Ekene?" she breathed, her voice a mixture of shock and hope.
Ekene rose from the ground, his rain-drenched form standing strong. "Ada, what are you trying to do? What would I do if you die? Who will I marry if you die? Please stop trying to kill yourself," he pleaded, his love for her shining in his eyes.
Overwhelmed with joy, Princess Adaeze threw herself into Ekene's arms, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss as Princess Adaeze's tears mingled with the rainwater cascading down her face. The moment was a beautiful reminder of the power of love and the strength it could bring in the darkest of times.
As their embrace ended, Ekene's expression grew serious, his voice echoing a question that held the weight of their world upon it. "Where is Ikuku?"